#PGA Championship, MLB, NBA, NHL and Travers make for betting bonanza

Connor Murphy (center) celebrates with Jonathan Toews (left) and Dominick Kubalik after a Game 3 goal against the Oilers.
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If you’re like me, your head was spinning last week with all the action after 4¹/₂ months of relative inertia, so here’s a Weekend Betting Guide to keep you organized so you don’t get shut out whether you’re heading over the New Jersey border to bet on betting apps or getting down otherwise (wink, wink).

Friday

There are six NBA and six NHL games spread throughout the day, but the first day of the weekend is most important for figuring out which MLB series we’re going to be betting. I’m always looking for live underdogs and this weekend’s possible plays look like the Blue Jays at the Red Sox (though the Jays might go off as small favorites with Boston’s dismal start), the Mariners versus the similarly overrated Rockies and the Giants at Dodgers.

As I mentioned in last Friday’s Post, I will occasionally bet MLB chalk parlays in case the faves all come in, and the best options this weekend look like they’ll be the Mets versus the Marlins (I’m not buying the fast start after their eight-day, coronavirus-induced hiatus), Twins at Royals and Padres versus Diamondbacks — and I wouldn’t blame Yankees fans for tossing them in these parlays as well.

This year’s first golf major, the PGA Championship, teed off Thursday, but it pays to check the updated odds each night. Last week, Justin Thomas won the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational at 12/1, but he was available at 18/1 after Thursday’s first round for those who weren’t doubting Thomases. In the Travelers Championship the last weekend of June, Dustin Johnson was 80/1 after the first round and still 25/1 after Friday’s action, so check the odds to see if you like a golfer to make a big comeback over the weekend.

I also wrote in last Friday’s Post, I’m riding the Blackhawks, the Western Conference’s No. 12 seed vs. No. 5 Edmonton (even though the games are being played in Edmonton). Chicago is ahead 2-1 heading into Friday’s Game 4 at 6:45 p.m. I’m also sticking with the 1st Period Over 1.5 goals in this series as it’s 3-0 so far (despite 1st Period Overs being only 11-17 overall in the NHL and scoring being down overall in the revised playoff format in the bubbles).

Saturday

We have another day of wall-to-wall baseball, basketball and hockey, plus a big racing day (with both automotive horsepower and real horsepower).

If the Blackhawks don’t finish off the Oilers on Friday, they have another chance on Saturday in Game 5.

NASCAR is holding the first of its two Cup races this weekend at Michigan International Speedway at 4:15 p.m. while Saratoga Race Course hosts a strong horse racing card all day capped by the Grade 1 Travers Stakes around 6:15 p.m.

If looking to beat the usual cast of short-priced contenders (Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, etc.), a live price would be Aric Almirola around 14/1 as he’s in contention too often to not break through one of these races.

In the Travers, all eyes (and most wagering dollars) will be on Belmont winner Tiz the Law, the 6-5 favorite, and Bob Baffert’s challenger, Uncle Chuck, at 5-2, but I’m going with No. 4 Max Player at 6-1 (and I expect those odds to drift higher) as I’m predicting there to be a fast pace to set up his big closing kick under jockey Joel Rosario.

In the NBA, I’m also sticking with my strategy of fading the Lakers and Bucks as they have virtually nothing to play for (and the greatest proof of that was when the Bucks lost outright to the lowly Nets on Tuesday as 19-point favorites). I’m 3-1 ATS versus the Lakers and 2-1 ATS versus the Bucks so far in the NBA restart heading into Thursday’s action. The Pacers-Lakers game is at 6:05 p.m. while Mavericks-Bucks is at 8:30 p.m.

Sunday

Sunday is hardly a day of rest with an alphabet’s soup menu of MLB, NBA and NHL, plus the second NASCAR Cup race (again, I’ll take another flier on Almirola) and the PGA Championship coming to a conclusion.

Good luck with your handicapping this weekend (and every weekend!).